double-dealing

/ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ/

//ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"double-dealing" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“double-dealing” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
14
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Cheating, dishonest; treacherous.

Key facts for double-dealing
PropertyValue
Headworddouble-dealing
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ/
Letters14
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “double-dealing” sits in English frequency

double-dealing falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

double-dealing is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Cheating, dishonest; treacherous.".

Zero misspellings are on record for double-dealing in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From the practice of dealing oneself multiple cards in order to gain an advantage in a game. The correct English form is double-dealing, spelled D-O-U-B-L-E---D-E-A-L-I-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    Cheating, dishonest; treacherous.

Etymology

From the practice of dealing oneself multiple cards in order to gain an advantage in a game.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "double-dealing"?
"double-dealing" is spelled D-O-U-B-L-E---D-E-A-L-I-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ/.
What does "double-dealing" mean?
As an adjective, "double-dealing" means: Cheating, dishonest; treacherous.
How do you pronounce "double-dealing"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "double-dealing" is /ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "double-dealing"?
From the practice of dealing oneself multiple cards in order to gain an advantage in a game. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “double-dealing”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-O-U-B-L-E---D-E-A-L-I-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌdʌbəlˈdiːlɪŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list